Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-12-23

lOietdlcu MIN lot snort llIne, Dub us Il
companion not at all Evidently he
had not got my letter. So | said
nothing With an urgent invitation a
ready accepted could easily get away;
bat deliberate de arturo with no
plausible object nor definite destination
would justly offend both my father and
his ward, who was to be my sister $
guest
Now there was nothing for me but to
90 through the ordeal, so determined
to 'face the music as best might.
After my encounter with Yates
managed 10 escape into the next car
where | found my old friend Harry
Weldon intently studying an apparent
ly very handsome young lady SO far as
could be judged from the back of her
head She sat few feet ahead of us.
40. she's beauty he exclaimed,
rapturously.
''How do you know?" asked. ado
shapely shoulders and a head full OF
FURNISHED gold hair constitute bcautyP"
just then she turned her head TO look
out through the window opposite. and
we caught a glimpse OF rosy checks and
a coral-red mouth
There! How does that suit your High
ness'' he retorted, triumphantly.
''She is very lovely woman, I'M
doubleday" said.
"By Jove! Hylton; how would you
like to kiss that mouth. eh?' asked
Weldon
"How do you know but | may vet y
answered.
when? Where? dare YOU to try"
rejoined Weldon in a breath.
Yates, who was an extremely hand
some fellow in his saturnine way. look
ed at me with self complacent smirk
that irritated me, as il TO imply that
only needed his beauty 10 succeed.
Here! Now" answered promptly,
emboldened by Weldon's banter and
Yates sneers.
'i'll bet YOU ten dollars YOU dare not
try" said Weldon. And I'll double
the wager if he likes" added Yates.
Done | answered Both wagers
are accepted. y
Both men looked at me in astonish
ment
Without another word advanced TO
the seat occupied by the beauty and
bending down muttered close to her
ear 'Cous-'
AS she turned to see who was bending
over her, kissed her fairly on the rose
bud mouth. Then, stepping back
quickly took off my hat. and begged
"a thousand pardons, adding that she
looked so very much like my cousin
whom she did somewhat resemble that
! had greeted her perhaps too hastily.
Il.
near. although the whole carful seemed
to stare at us-l suggested in an under
tone that, if she could only forgive my
hasty error. and allow me sit beside her
for a moments il would divert attention,
and no one need know that there had
been a blunder
With flushed face and half-angry and
half-mischievous look in her really bril-.
liant eyes. she nodded assent, and | sat
down.
At this unexpected elimination of my
pertinent venture. Weldon thumped
Yates in the stoma with heavy hand
satchel. and doubled him up like pat
ent ruler. And a Irritation drummer
in front kicked his companion on the
shin so violently that he dropped a bot
tie of whisky. and smashed it into frag
ments After that they both looked at
me reproachfully.
Despite her apparent confusion. this
by play was not lost upon her acute
faculties. as | subsequently learned.
At first she was silent and eyed me
quite sharply, but after apparently sat
isfying herself that | was neither
pirate or a politician, she gradually,
under my careful and unvarying civili-
ty, became more sociable.
In form and feature she was lovely
creature with voice like melody, and
her say ngs all were bright.
Before we reached our common des-
tination for she told me that she was
going to the city in which ! lived /
was SO thoroughly bcwitched by her
beauty that from q very poor beginning
! was making the n o-t ardent love to
her, and, to my inetiable delight, she, in
a half-shy way was as softly responsive
as | coul expect under the crcum-
stances. After searching scrutiny of
my features had sat SIZED her, that il
not as beautiful as she, was at least as
well born. and not untrustwor thy, she
finally. with dash of desperation that
/ had before observed in her manner,
consented that we should be married as
soon as we reached our destination, on
condition that | sho I'D not offer any
more caresses until after the ceremony.
What wouldn't have promised herP
She was to spend the holidays wi h
relatives, she said. That reminded me
that the day was Christmas eve. and |
grew more determined to have her At
the Central station her host : carriage
was TO meet her. so we got off at minor
station on the suburbs. My friend We'll
don got oil there, too. As he came
toward is on the platform, | said:
weldon. YOU ought TO feel honored.
You are the first mortal that I have
ever presented to my aflianced wife"
"Indeed I'm de'ightedp' he said, with
G ident truth and admiration, as he